Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Samuel Kettell, ed. Specimens of American Poetry. 1829.

By An Evening Prospect

Ann Eliza Bleecker (1752–1783)

COME, my Susan, quit your chamber,

Greet the opening bloom of May,

Let us up yon hillock clamber,

And around the scene survey.

See the sun is now descending,

And projects his shadows far,

And the bee her course is bending

Homeward through the humid air.

Mark the lizard just before us,

Singing her unvaried strain,

While the frog abrupt in chorus,

Deepens through the marshy plain.

From yon grove the woodcock rises,

Mark her progress by her notes,

High in air her wings she poises,

Then like lightning down she shoots.

Now the whip-o-will beginning,

Clamorous on a pointed rail,

Drowns the more melodious singing

Of the catbird, thrush, and quail.

Pensive Echo, from the mountain,

Still repeats the sylvan sounds,

And the crocus-border’d fountain

With the splendid fly abounds.

There the honeysuckle blooming,

Reddens the capricious wave;

Richer sweets—the air perfuming,

Spicy Ceylon never gave.

Cast your eyes beyond this meadow,

Painted by a hand divine,

And observe the ample shadow

Of that solemn ridge of pine.

Here a trickling rill depending,

Glitters through the artless bower;

And the silver dew descending,

Doubly radiates every flower.

While I speak, the sun is vanish’d,

All the gilded clouds are fled,

Music from the groves is banish’d,

Noxious vapors round us spread.

Rural toil is now suspended,

Sleep invades the peasant’s eyes,

Each diurnal task is ended,

While soft Luna climbs the skies.

Queen of rest and meditation,

Through thy medium I adore

Him—the author of creation,

Infinite, and boundless power.

’T is he who fills thy urn with glory,

Transcript of immortal light;

Lord! my spirit bows before thee,

Lost in wonder and delight.